Inside the Miami Marlins with MLB.com beat writer Joe FrisaroTwitter

Results tagged ‘ Ted Simmons ’

The Marlins may be weighing all their options, but the candidate that appears to have the most momentum to manage the club in 2011 is familiar to Florida fans.

Indications are Bo Porter has emerged as the frontrunner.

Porter, a former big league outfielder, was the Marlins’ third base/outfield coach from 2007-09, before he joined the Arizona staff in 2010.

Numerous sources confirmed the Marlins have serious interest in Porter, who is regarded as a strong teacher of fundamentals. Known for being well prepared, the 38-year-old already has been making inquiries about candidates for his coaching staff.

Earlier this month, Porter interviewed for the Pirates managerial position.

The Marlins’ search is entering another week after Bobby Valentine, who was offered the job, opted to withdraw from consideration.

Edwin Rodriguez, who went 46-46 after replacing Fredi Gonzalez on June 23, remains in the mix. But the club hasn’t spoken with Rodriguez since the season ended.

Porter previously interviewed for the Marlins job after Gonzalez was dismissed in June. Porter impressed the club then, and he remained under consideration even after the team decided to stay with Rodriguez.

Other candidates being mentioned are Tony Pena, Ted Simmons and Jim Fregosi. It remains unclear how much serious interest the team has in them.

The Marlins finished 80-82 in 2010, and the organization is placing an emphasis to improving fundamentally.

Florida has a young outfield that features rookies Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton. Cameron Maybin isn’t a rookie, but he is 23-years-old.

Porter would be looked at to help the developments of these young players.

In recent years, Porter worked with former Marlin, Cody Ross, who now has become a playoff hero for the Giants. In 2008 and 2009, Porter frequently stated that Ross was deserving of a Gold Glove.

Fresh off an 80-82 season, the front office is in the process of narrowing its list of candidates and setting up interviews. The process is expected to take a little while.

In contention for the job are Bobby Valentine, Jim Fregosi, Bo Porter and Tony Pena. Other names that have been reported are Ted Simmons and Tim Wallach.

Edwin Rodriguez, who replaced Fredi Gonzalez on June 23, remains a candidate. But it appears he isn’t a frontrunner. Under Rodriguez, the Marlins were 46-46.

As the Marlins are plotting how to move forward with their managerial search, the organization also are being impacted by the Mets’ general manager vacancy.

The Mets have asked for permission to talk with president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest, general manager Michael Hill and vice president of player personnel Dan Jennings about their GM post.

Indications are the Marlins will deny the request. However, ESPN.com reports that Jennings has a stipulation in his contract that would allow him to talk with the Mets. So the door may not be completely closed for him to talk with New York.

A list of candidates is being compiled, and more names are starting to surface. What remains unclear in the Marlins’ managerial search is if there is a true frontrunner.

The intriguing name out there is Ozzie Guillen, whose status with the White Sox remains unsettled. However, reports are out that Guillen is seeking a long-term contract to remain in Chicago.

If he were to become available, Guillen would instantly appear to be the Marlins’ first choice. The Marlins, though, haven’t made any public comments regarding their managerial position.

The team has repeatedly said after the season they will evaluate current manager Edwin Rodriguez, who has the Marlins one game over .500 (76-75) heading into their final road trip, which begins on Thursday at Milwaukee.

Guillen has ties with the Marlins. He was the third base coach in 2002-03.

Because some of the potential candidates project to be on the staffs of playoff teams, the search could last a little while. Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and third base coach Tom Foley are a couple of names to monitor. Both are regarded as solid big league managerial candidates. Whether they are fits for Florida is unclear right now.

There are a couple of other names floating around. Bobby Valentine, who was in consideration in June after Fredi Gonzalez was dismissed, remains in the picture. How much so, though, is in question. Indications are that Valentine will not get the job.

Bo Porter, the D-backs bench coach, interviewed after Gonzalez was let go. Porter also is being discussed internally. But like Valentine, he may not be the first option.

Padres first base coach Rich Renteria and Yankees bench coach Tony Pena also are under consideration. And Ted Simmons, the Padres bench coach, has been mentioned, but he doesn’t appear to be the first choice.

Other names brought up in various media reports are Larry Bowa and Wally Backman.

For now, the Marlins are playing out the season before deciding which direction to go in 2011.

Former MLB catcher Ted Simmons makes it clear that he’d like to eventually manage in the big leagues. Perhaps Florida will be in his plans. If so, it will have to wait until after the season.

A story recently on AOL FanHouse linked Simmons as a potential candidate to someday manage the Marlins.

Edwin Rodriguez replaced Fredi Gonzalez on June 23, and he will run the club until after the season. The organization will re-evaluate the position at that time.

Indications are the Marlins may indeed have Simmons on their radar to manage.

Rodriguez, in the meantime, has done a terrific job since taking over. Entering Friday night at San Diego, the Marlins are 17-15 with Rodriguez at the helm, and they are at 51-51 overall.

Simmons currently is the Padres bench coach.

Recently, he spoke with the MLB.com Padres reporter Corey Brock about his managerial aspirations.

“I’ve done everything but manage,” Simmons told Brock in a story that ran on the Padres official web site. “This is my third year as the bench coach [second with San Diego] and after three years, either you do it [manage] or forget about it.”

Simmons, who will turn 61 on Aug. 9, may interview with Florida in the off-season. Simmons told Brock recently that he didn’t want to talk about any teams specifically right now.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.